The Judiciary - Contemporary Issues

Criminal Justice System Policy

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These slides have been updated as of 9am 4/17/12

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In this section we will review a variety of current issues regarding the courts on each level of government.

• Sandra Day O'Connor's War on Judicial Elections
• Judicial Elections in Texas and the Local Area
• Standing: Can the Supreme Court the Ability of People to Take Cases to the Judiciary?
• Judicial Vacancies
• Review of the October 2009 session of the Supreme Court
• General Issues with the Texas Court System
• General Issues with Local Court Systems
• McDonald v. Chicago

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The October 2009 Session of the U.S. Supreme Court

• NYT: Overview of 2009-2010 Supreme Court Term.
• Statistical Analysis of 2009-2010 term.
• ScotusBlog Commentary.

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Sandra Day O'Connor's War on Judicial Elections

• Judges Should be Appointed Not Elected.

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Judicial Elections in Texas and the Local Area

• Judgepedia: Texas Judicial Elections 2010.
• Judgepedia: Brazoria County Elections.
• Judgepedia: Harris County Elections.

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General Issues with the Texas Court System

• The Resignation and Imprisonment of Texas Federal Judge Samuel Kent.
• The Reprimand of Judge Sharon Keller.

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General Issues with Local Court Systems

• Harris County to Create a "hybrid" Public Defenders' Office.

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McDonald v. Chicago

• The Decision.

Commentary:

• David Cohen
• Robert Cottrol
• Eugene Volokh
• Richard Aynes
• Alison LaCroix
• Alan Gura
• Jon Lowy
• Saul Cornell
• David Gans
• Adam Winkler
• Randy Barnett
• Nelson Lund
• Jack Rakove
• Ilya Shapiro
• Steven Calabresi
• Douglas Berman